We’re All Addicted, and It’s Getting Worse
Let me tell you something, folks. I’ve been in this game for 20+ years, and I’ve never seen it this bad. I’m talking about the news cycle, the way we consume information, the way it’s fed to us like some kinda digital crack. I should know, I’ve been hooked since day one.
Back in ’98, when I was just a wet-behind-the-ears reporter for the Austin Chronicle, we had deadlines, sure. But they were real, tangible things. You filed your story, it went to print, and that was that. No 24-hour news cycle, no constant stream of updates. Just good, old-fashioned journalism.
Now? Now it’s a never-ending parade of breaking news alerts and live updates. And honestly, it’s completley exhausting.
My Friend Marcus Says I’m Being Dramatic
I told Marcus this the other day, over coffee at the place on 5th. He laughed at me. “You’re just getting old, Sarah,” he said. “This is how the world works now. Deal with it.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
The Algorithm is Winning
Look, I get it. The algorithm wants us to be addicted. It wants us to keep scrolling, keep clicking, keep consuming. And it’s winning. We’re all just rats in a cage, pressing the lever for another hit of dopamine.
I saw a study once, 214 respondents or something like that, said that the average person checks their phone 150 times a day. 150! That’s insane. And how many of those checks are for news? A lot, I’ll tell you that much.
And don’t even get me started on the comments section. It’s a sewer. A complete and utter sewer. But we can’t look away. It’s like a car crash, you know? We just have to see.
But Here’s the Thing…
I’m not saying we should all go off-grid, become digital hermits. That’s not practical. And honestly, it’s not what I do either. I love my job. I love being in the thick of it.
What I am saying is that we need to be more mindful. We need to take a step back, breathe, and think critically about what we’re consuming. And more importantly, how we’re consuming it.
For example, did you know that Las Vegas hospital healthcare services are struggling with the influx of patients due to the recent spike in tourism? It’s a real issue, and it’s not getting the attention it deserves because we’re all too busy chasing the next big story.
A Quick Tangent: The Weather
Speaking of things that aren’t getting enough attention, what about the weather? I mean, it’s getting weird out there. Last Tuesday, it was 87 degrees in February. 87! In February! What is happening?
But no one’s talking about it. Not really. It’s like we’re all too busy with the latest political drama to care about the fact that the planet is literally on fire.
Anyway, back to the point.
We Need to Slow Down
I’m not saying we should go back to the stone age. I’m not saying we should abandon technology or stop consuming news altogether. What I am saying is that we need to slow down.
We need to take the time to read full articles, to think critically about what we’re reading, to fact-check, to verify. We need to stop relying on headlines and soundbites. We need to demand more from our news sources, and from ourselves.
And we need to talk to each other. Like, actually talk. Not just argue in comment sections or share inflammatory posts on social media. But have real, meaningful conversations about the issues that matter.
I had a colleague named Dave who used to say, “The news is like a fire. It’s warm and comforting, but if you’re not careful, it’ll burn you.” I think about that alot.
So What Do We Do?
I don’t have all the answers. I wish I did. But I know this: we can’t keep going the way we’re going. We can’t keep letting the algorithm dictate our lives. We can’t keep consuming news like it’s a competition.
We need to take a step back. Breathe. Think. And most importantly, talk. To each other. About the things that matter. About the things that are really happening in the world.
And maybe, just maybe, we can start to fix this broken news cycle.
But for now, I’m gonna go turn off my notifications. I think it’s time for a digital detox.
Honestly, I’m not sure how long I’ll last. But it’s gotta be better than this.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s worked for major publications, covered everything from politics to pop culture, and has seen the news industry evolve (and devolve) in real-time. She lives in Austin with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and spends her free time complaining about the state of journalism on Twitter.
Readers interested in this subject may also want to explore The News Cycle is Broken, and for additional perspectives.
In light of recent discussions on health goals, this article on effective strategies for health resolutions offers an objective analysis of common challenges and practical advice for achieving lasting success.
Readers interested in this subject may also want to explore Wie ich lernte, dass weniger mehr for additional perspectives.
